Here we are at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Port-au-Prince! 10am. Surprise. Originally we were going to meet in Grand Ravine, but because concerns about safety, our school principals decided to meet us downtown. During the meeting a call came in reporting to them that a shooting had occurred in Grand Ravine--no details, but a caution for them. We held our meeting inside. The Principals had 3 points: 1) planning the party for Wednesday; 2) planning for the visits to individual schools on Thursday; 3) Request for continuing to bring the team members to visit us in Oakland as we began in 2013. We put a 4th point on the agenda-- Nicole Dilhomme--volunteer now stricken with paralysis; and #5. promoting discussion about education i.e. i educational practices, teacher stories, involvement in the larger community. etc. and #6 Strengthening our relationship with St. Bernadette parish and its school Mary Magdalen. #1: PARTY: In spite of the actual reported shooting this morning, the principals remained committed to holding the party in Grand Ravine tomorrow. The Orion school is not close to the center of town and is in a rather calm residential area. Our certificates will be distributed congratulating each student for keeping up with their education. The Principals were wholly upbeat about our HHE program changing the lives of the students. Many would still be on the streets, or with poor attendance, without proper equipment. They thanked us deeply for this. They liked the idea proposed by ministry member, Michelle Baptiste, of having students do drawings to express their feelings about their education. The called it "free drawing" like "free speech". There will be dancing and music as well. An exciting event! #2: VISITS: Prior to our arrival in a Skype meeting the Principals expressed serious reservations about our request to pay a visit to each of our 4 schools. The reason has always been safety--not for us foreign visitors-- but safety for the students and staff who could be visited by the common extortionists after we leave. They wanted to keep our presence and connection with the schools invisible. They did say they would accept the visit of one person who would blend into the setting the best, namely a Black person. We agreed that that made sense--in the Skype meeting. However today they again asked us to completely rethink this and we decided together not to make any single visits especially to the two schools in the vulnerable town center. #3 Visiting California: We agreed that exchanging visits was part of our program. We were glad that we had already been able to start the visiting with Pres. Point-Du-Jour in 2013, then Frantzco Joseph and Gentilhomme Jean-Gilles in 2015. We acknowledged our limited resources, the problems we had in the beginning maintaining funding for the scholarships, and the fact that we had to drop 70 students. We pledged to work to continue the program--to which big smiles flashed from all the Principals--above all. And as possible to continue the visiting. #4 Nicole Dilhomme: Nicole Dilhomme, an original volunteer with the Grand Ravine Community Human Rights Council (GR-CHRC) back in '05, and a volunteer also initiating the the HHE program, Nicole has been stricken with total paralysis and cannot help herself any longer let along volunteer for HHE. So a collection of money was made and we hope to deliver it in person with hugs and much love. #5 Educational Issues: given the current schedule it was agreed that we couldn't have another special meeting to enter into a discussion of our educational concerns. We agree to begin communicating by e-mail and/or Skype meetings about these matters. #6. Parish Relationship: It has been a given that supporting 20 students at Mary Magdalen (a total of 147 students) has been a special connection with the Catholic parish of St. Bernadette. Two years ago HHE liaison, Tom Luce, met with the pastor, Fr. Laguerre. Now the St. Columba ministry would like to find out how to better relate with this sister parish as we continue to support our 20 students. A meeting is being planned by Mr. Noël, Principal of Mary Magdalen and Pastor Laguerre before we leave.

Life is really back to normal. Kids going to school, street vendors selling their wares on busy streets.

All our group was privileged today to be invited to a meeting of a coalition of human rights defenders whose purpose is to promote the peaceful creation of an interim government in Haiti now that the overwhelmingly flawed presidential election was postponed. with near unanimous demands of civil society groups including some supporters of the current President who must end his term on Feb. 7. These long time fighters using non-violent means that require years of dangerous sacrifice against mammoth odds of money and violence, marching in the streets for basic human rights for the majority of people represented by this wooden carving that was in the room. A common person. These people are fighting for the basic rights, like education, that hopefully all Haitian children will receive. Not just those who can afford to attend school.

Thank you for sharing with us what you do each day. I love following your travels and hearing about the exciting connections you are making and on-the-ground moments when you are fully present to all that is going on in Haiti. I've shared your blog with 4 of the folks who donated school supplies and the one who donated the first aid supplies, as well. Be safe. Peace. Spread our message of support, solidarity, faith. Sending prayers your way.